Portrait and biographical album of Knox county, Illinois, Part 68

Author: Biographical Publishing Company, Buffalo and Chicago; Chapman Brothers, pub
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Chicago : Biographical publishing company
Number of Pages: 1130

USA > Illinois > Knox County > Portrait and biographical album of Knox county, Illinois > Part 68

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

The first wife of Mr. Parsons died in this town- ship on the 25th of March, 1869. He was again married, on the 5th of September, 1871, to Miss Actus Baxter, an excellent lady and a native of Ohio. She was the daughter of Samuel and Actus (Gorsuch) Baxter. The mother was a native of Maryland, and of English origin ; the father was a native of Virginia, descended from the Germans. Mrs. Parsons was born in Muskingum County, Ohio, Nov. 25, 1836. She came to Knox County with her parents, who left the above county in 1863. She is the sixth in order of birth of a family of ten children, only one of whom is deceased. The father died Jan. 21, 1864, the demise of the mother occurring June 9, 1878.

Mr. Parsons is identified with politics as a stalwart Republican, and has been a firm supporter of that party's policy since its organization. He is thor- oughly posted in the general topics of the day, and is a man who reads much and keeps abreast of the times.

We take pleasure in presenting, in connection with this sketch, a view of the handsome home of Mr. Parsons.

enjamin Lombard, Jr., President of the Lombard Investment Company, Boston, Mass., and London, Eng .; President of the Bank of Creston, Creston, Iowa; Presi- dent of the Kansas State Bank, Wichita, Kan .; and the head of the banking house of Lombard Bros., Kansas City, Mo., was born at Truro, Cape Cod, Mass., May 30, 1836.

The Lombards came to England with William the

Hours Very July

LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERCITY OF ILLINOIS

629

KNOX COUNTY.

Conquerer, and the name has been familiar in Lon- don for centuries. The immediate ancestor of the subject of our sketch was David Lombard, native of Cape Cod, town of Truro, where he was born Nov. 16, 1796. He was a seafaring man and most of his life was spent on the ocean as captain of a vessel. He was married at Truro, Dec. 10, 1Szo. His wife, nee Anna Gross, was also a native of Cape Cod, tracing her ancestry back to the Puritans. Capt. Lombard and wife lived together over 61 years, Mirs. Lombard dying in October, 1881. They reared four sons and two daughters, Benjamin Lombard, Jr., be- ing the youngest of the family.

Benjamin Lombard, Jr., our subject, was but nine years of age when he began as clerk in a general store and was there so employed for several years, spending the winter, however, at the district schools. In 1849 he came West and began work in a land- office with his uncle, at Henry, Marshall Co., Ill., at a salary of $175 a year, out of which he paid $1.25 per week for his board. When we are told that he saved money from his first year's earnings, the key to much of his subsequent success is at hand. Simply unadulterated economy laid the foundation of his fort- une. His great operations in life, where thousands and thousands of dollars have been involved, of course were not influenced by economy, but economy formed his ground plan. For two years he was em- ployed upon the records and abstracts of titles of the Military Tract in Illinois, and while working at this he was shrewd enough to recognize the opportunities offered for speculation. He was about 16 years of age when he made his first investment of lands in the Military Tract, and the deal netted him $3,700.

After finishing the record work, our subject trav- eled for his old employers until he was 22 years of age. About this time, or on Oct. 5, 1858, he was married at Cambridge, Mass., to Miss Julia E. Lom- bard, daughter of the late Benjamin Lombard, found- er of the Lombard University, Galesburg, Ill. After marriage he made his residence near Boston, making journeys Westward occasionally on business, and in 1861 located at Galesburg. Here he dealt largely in real estate, with fortune always in his favor. In fact it appears that from boyhood to this writing (June, 1886) everything that Benjamin Lombard, Jr., has touched turned to gold.

Our subject was one of the early stockholders in the First National Bank at Galesburg, and was many

years its Vice-President. In 187 3 he started the bank at C'reston, Iowa, and in 1882 organized the Lombard Investment Company, the largest institution of the kind in the United States. Their investments will average 8750,000 per month, and while in the aggre- gate it amounts to millions, no man has ever lost a dollar by them. His bank at Wichita, Kan., was started in January, 1881, and the Kansas City house some time later. In addition to these large financial concerns over which he presides, his landed interests are immense. He has upward of 10,000 acres of lund, under cultivation by tenantry and otherwise, and his unimproved lands in Kansas, lowa and Ne- braska would, if thrown together, rival in area the State of Rhode Island. The writer knows that Mr. Lombard would protest against this publication if he could, but it is a license we sometimes take, espe- cially when as a chronicler of facts to be read by un- known thousands, both in America and Europe, we wish to illustrate by example the unparalleled possi- bilities of the youth of our country, be their start in life ever so poor. This is sufficient apology for the brief mention made of the financial success of the most remarkable man in Galesburg.

Mr. Lombard's sons are named respectively Will- iam Alden, who is secretary of the Lombard Invest- ment Co .; Harry Dana, an extensive stock farmer residing in Monona County, Iowa; Martin Gay, a stu- dent; and a daughter, Hazel. The Eastern residence of Mr. Lombard is at Brookline, Mass.

23.0

sames Hammond. One of the oldest resi- dents of Ontario Township, as well as one of the most successful farmers and re- spected and honored citizens of the same, is the subject of this notice. The origin of the

Hammonds in the United States dates back to 1634, at which time a family of that name came here from England and made settlement. Of that family two sons were born-Thomas and Nathaniel, and it is from the former son that the subject of this biographical notice is descended. The family has numerous branches throughout the United States, and especially in New England.

The father of our subject moved from Connecti- cut to Ohio in 1810. There heengaged in the voca- tion of farming, and was thus occupied all his life.

630

KNOX COUNTY.

He was married in Summit County, that State, to Miss Rebecca Farnham, the daughter of John and granddaughter of Gad Farnham, whose great-great- grandfather came from England about the time the first family of Hammonds came to this country. She removed to the State of Ohio when quite a young lady. After their marriage the parents of James Hammond settled on a farm in Summit County, Ohio. Of their union five children were born. The mother died when James was three months of age. In due time the father was again married, Miss Mary Fisk, of Summit County, Ohio, becoming his wife. The father and stepmother came to Knox County in 1847, whither the subject of this notice had preceded them three years. On the roth day of September, 1844, when Mr. Hammond was 20 years of age, he started from Bath, Summit County, Ohio, with Royal Hammond, a distant relative, and two men as assistants, with a flock of 1,300 sheep, to drive them a distance of over 500 miles. The party had to walk all the distance. They had a team of horses to carry camping utensils, etc. The party, with their sheep, arrived in this township Oct. 28, 1844, averaging, from the time they started to the time they arrived, 141/2 miles per day. During the long drive they lost about 150 sheep. During the following winter, from loss by wolves, change of food and want of proper sheltering for them, the herd dwindled down to about 400-a loss of about 900. Mr. H. experienced great difficulty in properly car- ing for the sheep on the road. Prairie fires had to be fought; wolves were plentiful, and it was all the party could do to contend successfully against all these obstacles. Mr. H. tended the flock for three years. He says he had a tough time, but the expe- rience he gained was a world of benefit to him in after life.

On the arrival of his father and stepmother they settled in Galesburg, where the father died Sept. 3, 1856; his wife survived him until April 30, 1885, her demise occurring at the residence of her son, Theo- dore, at Victoria, this county. She was born Sept. 18, 1802, and was the third in order of birth of her parents' family of 13 children. Of her union with Mr. H. 1I children were born. Her husband, father of our sub- ject, was an early settler in Ohio, as well as in Knox County, and while here held many of the local offices of his township.

James Hammond remained with his parents on

the old farm the major portion of his time until his marriage. He began teaching school in Ontario Township when quite a young man, and at this writ- ing numerous citizens of this township can testify to his competency as a teacher, many of them having been his pupils. Oct. 7, 1847, he was married in Ontario Township, to Miss Susan P. Powell, born in Deerfield, Oneida County, N. Y., Sept. 5, 1821. Her mother, Maria (Wilson) Powell, died when she was only five years old, and she afterward made her home in the family of her aunt and uncle, Charles F. Camp, who was one of the most prominent of the old settlers who first came to this county, and with whom she came west in 1838, and settled in Ontario Town- ship before Oneida was laid out.

The parents of Mrs. Hammond on the paternal side were of German-Welsh origin, and on the ma- ternal side were of Irish origin. Of the first marriage of Mr. Powell, the father of Mrs. Hammond, two children were born-Mrs. H. and Horace ; the latter is deceased. The father married a second time Evaline Brainard, who was a sister of Dr. Brainard, of Chicago. The result of this marriage was eight children, two of whom are now deceased, viz. : Brainard and Catherine. The former was a soldier in the late war, and, after passing through three years of service, he re-enlisted and was killed at the battle of Lookout Mountain. Those now living are Har- vey, Charles, Edwin, Orville, Eugene and Luciene. The four latter were soldiers in the War of the Re- bellion. Edwin was surgeon, and served during the whole war. Orville went in as color-bearer, and was mustered out Captain; he lay 14 months in South- ern prisons ; the most of the time he was in Libby. He escaped from Columbia prison, S. C., and was two months getting through to the Federal lines. The father of Mrs. Powell was a soldier in the War of 1812 ; the father of Mr. P. a soldier in the Revolu- tionary War.

Mr. and Mrs. Hammond are the parents of six children, two of whom are deceased : Park H. married Mary L. Wetmore, and resides on a farm in Rio Township; Ella M. is living at home; Fanny C. is likewise an inmate of the family household, and Ira E. is engaged in working on the farm Both Mr. and Mrs. Hammond are members of the Congregational Church.

Mr. Hammond, of this notice, has met with far more than ordinary success as an agriculturist since

631

- KNOX COUNTY.

coming to this county. He was born in Ohio, July 7, 1824; was educated in the log schoolhouse at Ham- mond Corners, Bath, Ohio, where it is reported he received the usual amount of " thrashings." He came to this county in r844, and made settlement in Onta- rio Township, and there resided until 1848, when he removed to Galesburg. Remaining in the latter city one year, he moved to Knox Township, and in 185 ! again moved back to Ontario Township. He has fol- lowed agricultural pursuits all his life, and his landed possessions in the county consist of upward of 500 acres. His home farm is beautifully located, with a large two-story brick residence upon it, finished with hardwood and well-furnished. The home has been beautified by the setting out of evergreens, and the barns and out-buildings are all of the most substan- tial nature. His land is all under an advanced state of cultivation, and in the prosecution of his vocation Mr. Hammond is meeting with that success which energy and perseverance are sure to bring. Politic- ally, he votes with the Republican party. He has been Supervisor of his township for six years, and also held the office of Road Commissioner and other local offices of minor import.

W. Elliott, a well-known and prosperous agriculturist, residing on section 25, Vic- toria Township, was born Oct. 18, 1842, in Knox County. His parents were Thomas and Hannah (Reece) Elliott, natives respectively of Ohio and South Carolina. The senior Mr. Elliott was married in Ohio. He came to Illinois and made settlement in Persifer Township in 1837, being among the earliest settlers of the town. In 1856 he removed to Victoria Township, where he purchased 160 acres of land on section 25. Upon this tract the family remained until 1868, when, dis- posing of the same, they removed to Missouri, where the father purchased 80 acres, and where they resided until his demise in 1880. His wife still survives him and is residing upon the old home farm. The parental family consisted of 14 children, seven of whom are still living and bear the names of Burgess, George W., Samantha, Sarah, Elizabeth, Hannah and Thomas.

G. W. Elliott of this biographical notice remained under the parental roof until he had attained his

majority, in the meantime assisting his father upon the farm and attending the common schools of his neighborhood. In the spring of 186z he enlisted in defense of his country, joining Co. D, 69th Ill. Vol. Inf. At Vicksburg he was assigned to guard duty, and was thus occupied until mustered out at the expiration of his term of enlistment.

Upon his return home our subject engaged in the tilling of the soil. His first purchase of land con- sisted of 40 acres on the quarter-section where he now resides, afterward adding, at different times, 120 acres, 27 acres of timber land, and So acres each on sections 23 and 15. Upon his fine farm he erected, in 1879, a handsome dwelling valued at $2,000. Three years previous to this he built a barn, which was burned in 1881. He is engaged in the raising of grain and stock quite extensively, and is meeting with success in his chosen vocation.

The lady chosen by Mr. Elliott to share his heart and home was Miss Albina Mosher, a native of Illi- nois and daughter of Seneca and Nancy (Buck) Mosher. The marriage was solemnized April 13, 1865. The parents of Mrs. Elliott were natives of New York and Vermont, and were married in Ohio in 1838. Three years later they came to Illinois, locating in Knox County. At present they are resi- dents of Victoria. The parental family of Mrs. Elliott numbered 10 children. Those living are Sarah A., Albina, wife of our subject, Frances and Manford.

Our subject and wife have had born to them six children, as follows: James F, Emma, Susan A., Hannah, George and John. Mr. Elliott affiliates with the Greenback party, and has served his town- ship in the offices of Constable, School Director and Pathmaster. What Mr. Elliott has of this world's goods has been acquired by his own efforts, the result of industry and economy, and he is a fait sample of the men who form the bone and sinew of the com- munity.

ulius D. Bragg, at present residing on his fine faim, located on section 3, Chestnut Township, was born in Jefferson County, Iowa, Aug. 10, 1844. He is the son of Dab- nar and Julia A. (Carpenter) Bragg. The former was born in Virginia and died in 1844, and the latter was born in 1817, and is still living in Glasgow, Jefferson Co., Iowa. There were eight

632

KNOX COUNTY.

children, two of whom died in infancy; those living are Clara, Sophora, Hattie, Albert, Decatur and Cynthia.

Mr. Bragg of this sketch was married Oct. 27, 1868, to Mary M. Harper. She was born in Knox County Oct. 1, 1849, and has become the mother of five children-Jennie, born Sept. 1, 1869; Clara, Aug. 17, 1871; Burrell, Oct. 4, 1874; Gertrude, Sept. 9, 1877, and Carrie, April 21, 1879. Our sub- ject is the proprietor of 170 acres of good farm land, all under an excellent state of cultivation.

Mr. Bragg gives considerable attention to the breeding of Short-horn cattle, of which he has some very fine specimens, among which is one pure-blood bull. Five head of his splendid herd, which are of the Rosemary and Miss Mott families, are recorded in the Short-horn Herd-book. He also breeds swine rather extensively chiefly, however, for shipping purposes.

Mr. Bragg was a soldier in the late war, having enlisted in Co. G, 30th Iowa Vol. Inf., under Col. Abbott, Aug. 8, 1862, and was mustered into service in September of the same year at Keokuk, lowa. The command was ordered to St. Louis, from there to Helena, Ark., then to Chickasaw Bluffs, back to Arkansas Post, up the White River, then to Milli- ken's Bend, where our subject aided in the opening of the canal. He participated in the siege of Vicks- burg, remaining there about 110 days, and June 22 marched into the city with his regiment. He was at the battle of Jacksonville, and with Sherman in his famous march to the sea. His regiment was in 32 general engagements, and was in Raleigh, N. C., when Lee surrendered. His last battle was fought at Belmont, N. C. June 22, 1865, he received an honorable and final discharge, but was mustered out at Washington in May, 1865. Politically he is a firm adherent to the Democratic party. Mrs. Bragg is a member of the Christian Church.

3+ ean C. Hurlbutt. Among the large land- owners, respected citizens and well-to-do farmers of this county is the gentleman whose name heads this biographical notice. Mr. Hurlbutt is the son of Asa and Mary (Jones) Hurlbutt, natives of the Green Moun- tain State and New Hampshire respectively.

The parents of our subject, soon after their mar- riage, located in Dalton, N. H., and lived there for some years, then moved to Lancaster, in the same State. From that place they emigrated to this county in 1854, and made settlement in Elba Town- ship, on section 14, where they continued to reside until they died. Their family of children are 11 in number, and were named Mary A., Charles N., Dean C., Mary Ann, John, Caroline, Sarah, Henry, Laura, Alice and George.

Dean C. Hurlbutt was born in Dalton, N. H., Feb. 13, 1834, and had nearly obtained his majority when he accompanied his parents to this county, at- tracted to this locality by an uncle, who lived in Truro Township Almost continuously since his lo- cation here he has been a resident of Elba Town- ship, and has been closely connected with its agri- cultural development. The education of Mr. Hurl- butt was received in the common school and supple- mented by continuous reading at home, and he has passed his entire life in that most independent of all callings, agriculture. His landed possessions at this writing amount to 520 acres, the major portion of which is good, tillable land, making him one of the large land-owners of the county.

Mr. Hurlbutt was married in Truro Township, Dec. 20, 1856, to Elizabeth (Lambert) Butts, widow of Stewart M. Butts, who was murdered a short dis- tance from the city of Peoria Mr. Butts' team was found in a cornfield, and he was lying close to it with his throat cut. Of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Hurlbutt two children, Mary A. and Julia A., have been born. Mary became the wife of Guy Davis, and lived with him a happy life in Elba Township until her demise, leaving to his care one child, Roy; her death occurred April 1, 1881. Julia, the other child of Mr. and Mrs. H., departed this life Nov. 6, 1879.

Mr. Hurlbutt has never sought position, and al- though well qualified to serve the people in many of the minor offices, he has found it to his interest to attend to his own business and leave politicians to fight for the offices. He nevertheless is a Republi- can in politics, and always votes for that party when opportunity affords.

In connection with this sketch we take pleasure in presenting a view of the homestead of Mr. Hurlbutt, on another page in this volume.

633

KNOX COUNTY.

Charles Cramer. Knox County compares favorably with any other in the State for fine and productive farms together with hand- some and costly residences, as likewise do her agricultural citizens compare favorably with those of any other community found any- where within the borders of this republic for energy and perseverance. The large majority of the successful agriculturists of this county came here poor in pock- et, but rich in determination, and most of them are now enjoying the accumulation of a handsome com- petency, and have a clear title to their lands. Among those living independent lives in their pleasant homes, surrounded by bright and intelligent children, is the gentleman whose name heads this brief bio- graphical sketch, who is engaged in the honorable calling of a farmer, stock raiser and dealer, on sec- tion 21, Orange Township.

Mr. Cramer was born in Clermont County, Ohio, Sept. 8, 1841, his father being James and his mother Ancline (Jones) Cramer, natives of Maryland, his father being a farmer by occupation. Charles re- mained on the old homestead in his native State until 1851, when he accompanied his parents to this State. His parents continued to reside here until 1867, when his father returned to Ohio, taking with him two of his sons. Our subject continued to re- main here engaged in the occupation of farming. The mother of our subject died previous to the fath- er's return to Ohio, and on his arrival in that State the father was again married to Mrs. Margaret Jones, widow of Benedict Jones, and uncle of the subject of this notice. James Cramer died on his farm in Ohio, in 1877, and his second wife is also deceased, her demise occurring in 187 8.

Mr. Cramer, of this sketch, and Miss Mary E. Lawrence became man and wife Aug. 16, 1862. She is the daughter of John S. and Abigail (Farlow) Law- rence, and has borne her husband five children, of which the record is as follows: George L., born May 16, 1865; Laura M., Jan. 28, 1875; Nellie A., Dce. 1, 1880; Clarence M., Jan. 5, 1882, and one who died in infancy unnamed.

The fine farin of our subject contains 179 acres of good and productive land, 119 of it being located on section 21, and 40 acres, which is young timber, on

section 35. He has a good frame dwelling on his place, together with barns and sheds for his cattle, cribs for his cereals, and all other necessary out- buildings for the carrying on of his vocation. In 1879 our subject rented his farm and moved to Gil- son, where he engaged in the grain and lumber trade in partnership with W. R. Lawrence. The partner- ship continued for about two years, when Mr. Cramer sold his interest in the grain part of their business to Mr. Lawrence and purchased his interest in the lum- ber part of the business and continued that for three years longer. He then closed out his lumber inter- est at Gilson, and went back to his first love, farming, in which occupation he has been continuously en- aged, and with the exceptions named has followed all his life. At the time of disposing of his business at Gilson, he was in ill health and left the labors of the office to recuperate while enjoying the fresh breezes of the country air and tilling the soil. Mr. Cramer is a member of the beneficiary order of A. O. U. W., No. 126, at Knoxville. Politically he is a believer in and a supporter of the principles advo- cated by the Republican party, and a truly repre- sentative citizen of Knox County. His wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

W. McCallister, a well-to-do and suc- cessful farmer and stock raiser, is prose- cuting his chosen vocation on his property located on section 12, Orange Township. He is a native of this State, having been born in White County, Sept. 7, 1830, and is the son of Simeon and Mary (Ooley) McCallister, natives of Kentucky.

The father of our subject was from one of the old Ranger families, a farmer by vocation, and followed his calling in his native State, and after coming to this county, which was in 1832, up to the date of his demise, April 14, 1850. His good wife, the mother of our subject, likewise died here, in April, 1864.

Mr. McCallister of this notice was reared to the honorable calling which he has followed thus far during his life. His education was acquired in the common school, and the most happy event in the history of his past took place March 17, 1859, at which time Miss Harriet L. Reed became his wife.

634

KNOX COUNTY.

She is the daughter of James and Mary (Mason) Reed, and was born in this county May 15, 1841. Her parents were old settlers in this county, coming here in 1837 Two children have come to brighten the household of Mr. and Mrs. McCallister-Mary L., born Dec. 6, 1861 ; and Silas H., Jan. 15, 1865. The first, when a bright-eyed little girl of seven years, was called from earth, Dec. 7, 1868.

M. W. McCallister has served his township as Supervisor one term, and as Assessor and School Trustee for two years. He has a fine farm, consist- ing of 187 acres of prime land, 121 of which are located in Orange Township and 66 acres in Haw Creek Township. A comfortable residence has been erected on the place, and there also may be found a good barn and necessary out-buildings, and in his vocation our subject is meeting with deserved suc- cess. Socially Mr. McCallister is a member of the A. F. & A. M., belonging to Lodge No. 66, at Knox- ville, and Rabboni Chapter, R. A. M. He and his wife are active members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In politics our subject votes for that party which sprang into existence in 1856 and was first successful in the election of our martyred President.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Portrait and biographical album of Knox county, Illinois, Part 68

Author: Biographical Publishing Company, Buffalo and Chicago; Chapman Brothers, pub Publication date: 1886 Publisher: Chicago : Biographical publishing company Number of Pages: 1130

Author: Biographical Publishing Company, Buffalo and Chicago; Chapman Brothers, pub
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Chicago : Biographical publishing company
Number of Pages: 1130